HELP. 5th wheel hitch choices.

[Hawkeye1]

I have a F250 super duty short bed with high bed rails (22") and pull a cougar with the road armor pin box. I get very close to the back of the cab when manouvering but my biggest issue is the bed rail clearance.
My current Reese Elite hitch at the highest setting and pin box at the lowest only gives me around 4 1/2" clearance.
We have been on a seasonal site for 3 years but want to travel more this year.
Open to looking at sliders, goosebox, goose neck or fixed hitches. I have the factory oem puck system fitted in the truck.
What would your recommendations be for a hitch giving more clearance on both the bed rails and the cab?

[wiredgeorge]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye1

I have a F250 super duty short bed with high bed rails (22") and pull a cougar with the road armor pin box. I get very close to the back of the cab when manouvering but my biggest issue is the bed rail clearance.
My current Reese Elite hitch at the highest setting and pin box at the lowest only gives me around 4 1/2" clearance.
We have been on a seasonal site for 3 years but want to travel more this year.
Open to looking at sliders, goosebox, goose neck or fixed hitches. I have the factory oem puck system fitted in the truck.
What would your recommendations be for a hitch giving more clearance on both the bed rails and the cab?

Hawkeye1, Suggest you consider that your camper has a gross weight of a shade under 14K lbs. The normal estimated pin weight is 23 percent of the gross. 3215 lbs pin weight. Add the weight of your prospective hitch and passengers and stuff in your truck and you are easily north of 4000 lbs payload. Now look at the yellow/white sticker in your driver door frame. It tells you your payload and don't be surprised if you are over loading your 3/4 ton. Happens.

[Hawkeye1]

Originally Posted by wiredgeorge

Hawkeye1, Suggest you consider that your camper has a gross weight of a shade under 14K lbs. The normal estimated pin weight is 23 percent of the gross. 3215 lbs pin weight. Add the weight of your prospective hitch and passengers and stuff in your truck and you are easily north of 4000 lbs payload. Now look at the yellow/white sticker in your driver door frame. It tells you your payload and don't be surprised if you are over loading your 3/4 ton. Happens.

Thanks, I am over on pin weight but I'm comfortable with that decision since I am under the allowable tow weight and the axle weights.
Do you have any recommendations for a hitch?

[RollaMo]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye1

Thanks, I am over on pin weight but I'm comfortable with that decision since I am under the allowable tow weight and the axle weights.

And we're off.......

[rhagfo]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye1

Thanks, I am over on pin weight but I'm comfortable with that decision since I am under the allowable tow weight and the axle weights.
Do you have any recommendations for a hitch?

Originally Posted by RollaMo

And we're off.......

Been there done that, got the T shirt!
Then I wised up, way too many hungry lawyers out there!
OP states he knows his weights, but what I find interesting is that with our 2,800# pin and DW, myself and what I carry in the in bed tool box, I would have even within about 100# of being overweight with a 3500 SRW Ram with a 4,200# payload.

[rhagfo]

As to the hitch most likely need a auto slider, just more weight. I don’t think a Anderson Ultimate would give you the necessary height.

[Matty Rich]

Andersen makes a hitch specifically for higher bed rails.
Check their website and look for the specs on the “Raised Gooseneck Mount”. Says bed rail height of 21.5”.

I love my Andersen and have recommended it to many people.

Instead of harping on what someones yellow sticker should say, I wish people would stop with the weight policing and try to help answer the OP’s question.

[Matty Rich]

Originally Posted by wiredgeorge

Hawkeye1, Suggest you consider that your camper has a gross weight of a shade under 14K lbs. The normal estimated pin weight is 23 percent of the gross. 3215 lbs pin weight. Add the weight of your prospective hitch and passengers and stuff in your truck and you are easily north of 4000 lbs payload. Now look at the yellow/white sticker in your driver door frame. It tells you your payload and don't be surprised if you are over loading your 3/4 ton. Happens.

Pretty sure his question was hitch related, not weight related.

[notanlines]

Matty, I’m afraid you’re in for a harsh ride here. There are many unknowing members, Hawkeye for instance, who simply aren’t aware of the intricacies involved in towing safely. Many here make it a point to direct them in the proper direction. Its all part of the ride.

[wiredgeorge]

Originally Posted by Matty Rich

Pretty sure his question was hitch related, not weight related.

I am pretty sure he is dangerously overloaded and which hitch isn't as important as pointing out the overload situation. Some folks on this site care about the safety of the other members.

[dutchmensport]

If the hitch height is raised, will the trailer still ride level?

No help on a slider. They are all heavy, heavy, heavy.

But if you are looking for a simple, adjustable height hitch that is durable, strong, and not horribly expensive, comes apart in 3 sections for easy removal, and all together weighs less than 100 pounds, look into the Demco Recon.

Demco does make a slider and the non slider. I have the non-slider, love it! Very easy to use, very easy to remove, and very easy to handle alone when it comes apart in the 3 parts.

https://www.demco-products.com/rv-to...-wheel-hitches

[Hawkeye1]

Originally Posted by notanlines

Matty, I’m afraid you’re in for a harsh ride here. There are many unknowing members, Hawkeye for instance, who simply aren’t aware of the intricacies involved in towing safely. Many here make it a point to direct them in the proper direction. Its all part of the ride.

I've only been driving semi trucks fir 40 years so looking forward to you teaching me the intricacies of towing safely.
Learning every day.

[dutchmensport]

Hey everyone... don't you know you don't mess with a man's truck and his brain at the same time. Just recommend the hitch he's looking for. He'll figure it out what you are all talking about eventually.

[Matty Rich]

Originally Posted by wiredgeorge

I am pretty sure he is dangerously overloaded and which hitch isn't as important as pointing out the overload situation. Some folks on this site care about the safety of the other members.

Just asking. What’s considered “dangerously overloaded”?
Take “the sticker” out of the equation. We all know 3/4 tons are capped at 10k for regulation purposes, not vehicle limits. So what’s the limit?

[Hawkeye1]

Originally Posted by Matty Rich

Just asking. What’s considered “dangerously overloaded”?
Take “the sticker” out of the equation. We all know 3/4 tons are capped at 10k for regulation purposes, not vehicle limits. So what’s the limit?

100%. We all know the stickers on 3/4 tons are skewed to keep them under the commercial vehicle regulations.

[Matty Rich]

Originally Posted by dutchmensport

Hey everyone... don't you know you don't mess with a man's truck and his brain at the same time. Just recommend the hitch he's looking for. He'll figure it out what you are all talking about eventually.

Thank you. That was my point. If you’re not gonna answer the question, then keep scrolling.
Stop trolling. Not everyone needs a lecture about payload capacity or door jam stickers.

[rhagfo]

Originally Posted by dutchmensport

If the hitch height is raised, will the trailer still ride level?

No help on a slider. They are all heavy, heavy, heavy.

But if you are looking for a simple, adjustable height hitch that is durable, strong, and not horribly expensive, comes apart in 3 sections for easy removal, and all together weighs less than 100 pounds, look into the Demco Recon.

Demco does make a slider and the non slider. I have the non-slider, love it! Very easy to use, very easy to remove, and very easy to handle alone when it comes apart in the 3 parts.

https://www.demco-products.com/rv-to...-wheel-hitches

Originally Posted by wiredgeorge

I am pretty sure he is dangerously overloaded and which hitch isn't as important as pointing out the overload situation. Some folks on this site care about the safety of the other members.

Dutchmensport has a good recommendation, seems like a good fit, they have both a slider and non slider. It looks like the slider requires a rail mount. This can be achieved by using a picture frame adapter for the puck mounting system.

WiredGeorge gets a bit dramatic, yes the OP is over payload, and this forum will encourage those over payload to get a TV with a larger payload. He is not towing his 5th wheel with a F150, he does have a HD F250 and is within Axle and tire ratings.
I did just fine with my old 2001 Ram 2500 towing close to 13K. Yep, over GVWR, over Max tow rating (added HP & Torque with small chip), UNDER Axle ratings and UNDER tire ratings. Managed that being 1,700# over the GVWR.
Towed fine, braked fine, handled fine. Towed that way for about seven years.

Yes, would catch the wrath of members for being overloaded, just ignored them as truck didn't need any suspension help to carry the load, the only change was new shocks (Bilsteins) at 255K miles.

When I was ready to get a new truck, I stepped up to a Ram 3500 DRW. My only concern was if I was in a crash with the 2001 Ram some ambulance chasing lawyer would go after us for being so far over GVWR.

[flybouy]

The debate of NOT informing an unknown newbie (or some "seasond" ) folks is never going away. I look at it like someone looking down the barrel of a loaded 1911 45 pistol with hammer pulled back asking " how do you take the safety off this thing?". Do you simply answer the question? Personally I think it's prudent to point out the danger first and then explain how it works.

[tallen]

Hawkeye1, I have a 2005 F250 6L Powerstroke, and I went with the Anderson Hitch. I love it, it allow me the clearance with my high bed rail sides. Just my 2 cents.

[Hawkeye1]

Originally Posted by tallen

Hawkeye1, I have a 2005 F250 6L Powerstroke, and I went with the Anderson Hitch. I love it, it allow me the clearance with my high bed rail sides. Just my 2 cents.

Was that with the 6 3/4 bed? Were you able to use the hitch with the ball receiver forward of the pinbox to give extra cab clearance?